Melania rescues Trump from embarrassment after he fails to recognise gift he gave Queen less than a year ago

US president does not recall horse statue present he handed over in July

Donald Trump had to be rescued from a tricky moment by his wife, Melania, when he failed to recognise a statue at Buckingham Palace that he had given the Queen last summer.

The US president was shown a pewter horse that he gave as a gift when they met in July last year, and was asked whether he recognised it. He replied “no”.

Melania came to his rescue, saying: “I think we gave that to the Queen.”

He had given the thoroughbred statue in polished pewter on his visit to Windsor.

It happened as the Queen was showing the president and First Lady around an exhibition at the palace picture gallery of American artefacts.

Among the items she showed them were a display of golfing memorabilia and a draft copy of a telegram from George VI to US General Dwight Eisenhower after the D-Day invasion of France.

Earlier, Mr Trump was pictured giving the Queen an unusual handshake as they met at the start of his state visit.

The president appeared to grasp only the monarch’s fingers in his fist as he was welcomed to the Palace.